Minimally invasive extracorporeal circulation versus conventional cardiopulmonary bypass in patients undergoing cardiac surgery (MiECS): Rationale and design of a multicentre randomised trial.

INTRODUCTION: The ultimate answer to the question whether minimal invasive extracorporeal circulation (MiECC) represents the optimal perfusion technique in contemporary clinical practice remains elusive. The present study is a real-world study that focuses on specific perfusion-related clinical outcomes after cardiac surgery that could potentially be favourably affected by MiECC and thereby influence the future clinical practice. METHODS: The MiECS study is an international, multi-centre, two-arm randomized controlled trial. Patients undergoing elective or urgent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), aortic valve replacement (AVR) or combined procedure (CABG + AVR) using extracorporeal circulation will be randomized to MiECC or contemporary conventional cardiopulmonary bypass (cCPB). Use of optimized conventional circuits as controls is acceptable. The study design includes a range of features to prevent bias and is registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05487612). RESULTS: The primary outcome is a composite of postoperative serious adverse events that could be related to perfusion technique occurring up to 30 days postoperatively. Secondary outcomes include use of blood products, ICU and hospital length of stay (30 days) as well as health-related quality of life (30 and 90 days). CONCLUSIONS: The MiECS trial has been designed to overcome perceived limitation of previous trials of MiECC. Results of the proposed study could affect current perfusion practice towards advancement of patient care.

Comparative analysis of the results of cyanoacrylate ablation and radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of venous insufficiency.

BACKGROUND: Varicose vein treatment has shifted to less invasive techniques owing to the complications associated with traditional treatment. The present study was designed to compare the effectiveness of cyanoacrylate ablation (CAA) with radiofrequency ablation (RFA). METHODS: Patients who had undergone RFA vs CAA (634 vs 246 patients) to treat great saphenous vein (GSV) insufficiency during a 5-year period were included in the present study. The preoperative and postoperative CEAP (clinical, etiologic, anatomic, pathophysiologic) class, symptoms, recurrence, and Doppler ultrasound findings were compared. RESULTS: All the veins in both groups were occluded at day 5. The 1-month closure rates were 97.3% and 98.7% for RFA and CAA, respectively. The overall postoperative closure rates at 5 years were 93.1% and 91.1% for RFA and CAA, respectively. The postoperative symptoms, CEAP class, and Doppler ultrasound findings were similar in both groups. The 5-year symptom-free survival rates were 73.5% and 72.0% in the RFA and CAA groups, respectively. The venous clinical severity scores had decreased from 5.9 ± 1.2 to 0.9 ± 0.8 and 5.8 ± 0.9 to 0.8 ± 0.6 in the RFA and CAA groups, respectively. The Aberdeen varicose vein questionnaire scores had decreased from 19.7 ± 5.5 to 4.8 ± 1.5 in the RFA group and from 18.9 ± 5.8 to 4.9 ± 1.4 in the CAA group. CONCLUSIONS: CAA seems to be the ideal treatment for GSV insufficiency because it is suitable for most patients and is nonthermal and nontumescent, with satisfactory results comparable to those with RFA. Long-term outcomes and cost analyses from larger series are required to confirm our findings.

Snorkel Technique for Inferior Mesenteric Artery During Endovascular Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.

PURPOSE: The snorkel technique is commonly used to preserve renal arteries in juxta renal aneurysm during endovascular repair. Herein, we present a patient who underwent bifurcated endograft implantation with snorkel technique for inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) in order to preserve the major source of bowel circulation. CASE REPORT: A 69-year-old male patient was diagnosed with abdominal aortic aneurysm. His history revealed that he had bowel resection due to a car accident 30 years ago. In addition, he was given relaparotomy 4 times due to intestinal complications. Computed tomography showed fusiform aneurysm with a maximal diameter of 60 mm and chronical occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery. Inferior mesenteric artery was found to be hypertrophic. During EVAR, 6 mm × 10 cm covered VIABAHN Endoprosthesis (Gore Medical) was implanted to the IMA over a 0.018 guidewire via puncture of the left axillary artery. Initially, the main body of the aortic stent-graft (Gore C3, size 23-14-16) was implanted to the infra renal segment of the aorta (below the renal arteries and the orifice using VIABAHN) via the right femoral artery. Next, the contralateral leg (Gore, 14-12-00) was implanted. Computed tomography was examined at 1- and 32-month postoperatively, and no endoleak or patency of IMA stent was detected. CONCLUSION: In this case of IMA-dependent circulation of the intestinal system, the protection of IMA via snorkel technique was successful.

Circumflex coronary artery originating from the right pulmonary artery in adult.

Anomalous origin of the circumflex coronary artery from the right pulmonary artery is rare, and symptoms are related to the collateralization and amount of myocardium that it supplies. A 50-year-old woman with severe bicuspid aortic valve stenosis had the diagnosis of anomalous origin of the circumflex coronary artery from the right pulmonary artery before valve replacement. Ligation and division of the circumflex coronary artery was performed. Myocardial ischemia was not observed. The patient was discharged after an uneventful recovery.

Air gun pellet: cardiac penetration and peripheral embolization.

Use of high-velocity air guns can to lead to serious injuries. Management options of cardiac pellet gun injuries are based on patient stability, and course and location of the pellet. Presently reported is the case of a boy who was shot with an air gun pellet. Following right ventricular entry, the pellet lodged in the left atrium and embolized to the right iliac and femoral artery. Following pellet localization, right ventricular injury was repaired, and the pellet was removed successfully.

Outcomes of Various Treatment Strategies for Patients with Continuous-Flow Ventricular Assist Device Thrombosis: A Retrospective Analysis.

Pump thrombosis is associated with high morbidity and mortality in patients with a continuous-flow left ventricular assist device. Although it has been defined clearly, the diagnosis and treatment of this complication still remain controversial. Between 2010 and 2014, 163 consecutive patients (mean age: 50.7 ± 13 years, 84% males, median duration of support: 277 (2-1077) days) were implanted a continuous-flow left ventricular assist device. Prospectively collected data of all patients who had at least one pump thrombosis event have been analyzed, retrospectively. Twenty-one pump thrombosis events were observed in 15 patients (9.2%, 0.137 events/patient-year). Median duration of support at the time of first pump thrombosis event was 259 (8-585) days. Overall mortality was 40% (6/15), and overall procedural success was 71.4% (15/21) in our entire cohort. The cause of mortality was hemorrhagic stroke in those who had medical treatment (n = 5), and sepsis and right ventricular failure in the other who had pump exchange. Pump exchange was performed in five patients, of which four survived. Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists are not beneficial in medical treatment of pump thrombosis. Medical treatment methods including unfractionated heparin and thrombolytics may completely resolve the thrombus and save some patients from pump exchange. In patients where medical treatment does not result in complete thrombus resolution within a reasonable period, and a donor heart is not available, pump exchange is the ultimate solution. Further studies are needed for optimal dosing of thrombolytics to decrease the rate of side effects.

Right Anterolateral Thoracotomy in the Repair of Atrial Septal Defect: Effect on Breast Development.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the cosmetic results and the impact on the breast development of a right anterolateral thoracotomy (RALT) in pre-pubertal children who underwent RALT for correction of atrial septal defects. METHODS: From December 2002 to July 2010, 25 female patients with a mean age of 8.5 ± 1.3 years underwent repair of atrial septal defects with a right anterolateral thoracotomy. Breast symmetry was described by a clinical index. The degree of scoliosis was measured by clinical examination. The subjective evaluation in breast asymetry, size, and shape was assessed by a survey obtained by the patients. RESULTS: There was no intraoperative or postoperative complication or late mortality in the thoracotomy approach or in the long-term follow-up (7.5 ± 2.2 years). According to the survey, breast asymmetry and differences between both breast size or shape were found in 15 (60%) and seven (28%) patients, respectively. One patient (4%) complained of a keloid scar. Mild sensitive skin deficit in the mammary area was determined in four patients (16%). According to the objective assessment, breast asymmetry was found 12 patients (48%) with index 1 and 13 patients (52%) with index 2. CONCLUSION: Although it is safe, the RALT is associated with the potential to effect unilateral breast development.